Complete Guide To Planning Your Trip To Tanzania
Complete Guide To Planning Your Trip To Tanzania, Tanzania is the best place to go if you like to travel and try new things. This lovely country in East Africa, which is on the Indian Ocean, has something for everyone. You don’t have to leave this sunny oasis to have the vacation you want because it has big towns and untouched landscapes.
We have tips on how to plan, where to go, and how to get the most out of your trip to help you make the best trip possible.
More on Tanzania
Tanzania is a very strange place. The biggest mountain in Africa and the second-deepest lake in the world are both there. It is 600 feet (200 meters) above sea level. In fact, Kilimanjaro, which is 19,340 feet tall (5,895 meters), lives in this country.
Lake Tanganyika is the second largest lake in the world. It is 4,710 feet (1,436 meters) deep. Russia’s Lake Baikal wins the gold award. It’s 5,387 feet (1,642 meters) long, which makes a big difference between first and second place.
But just because these are the most well-known parts of the country doesn’t mean they’re the only places where you can have fun.
Where Tanzania Came From
In 1964, Tanganyika (the land) and Zanzibar (the islands) became one country. The United Republic of Tanzania was formed at this point.
The merger couldn’t happen until both countries were no longer ruled by Britain. Tanzania got its freedom in 1961, but Zanzibar didn’t get its until January 1964. After three months, Tanzania was one country again.
Tanzania has the oldest skeletons of people in the world, which is why it is called “the Cradle of Mankind.” Tanzania has kept a lot of its original history. There are 120 different indigenous groups living in the country, and there hasn’t been much migration or colonization in their past.
Talking
Tanzania has two official languages: English and Swahili. Many people in the country speak English, but it is only taught at the college level. It starts in the first seven years of school and goes on until the end of a student’s term.
People in the country speak a lot of different unofficial languages because it is so big and has so many different cultures. Many of the 120 ethnic groups have their own language, and Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, and Gujarati have become famous because of their Asian roots.
The Arts
In Tanzania, the idea of kin and family is very important. Family events and issues are always given the most attention, no matter how hard or inconvenient they are. Tanzania’s transportation system isn’t very good, but that won’t stop a family member from coming to a party.
Tanzanian society also puts a lot of value on art and history. Most theater is based on telling stories through dance and speech. Scientists from all over the world have found evidence of human ancestry in Tanzania. This combines the ideas of history and nature.
Get ready for your trip
When planning a trip to Tanzania, the weather and the experience are the most important things to think about.
In what way should you go to Tanzania?
Tanzania has wildlife, beaches, historical sites, and a culture that hasn’t been changed much by globalization.
While we talk about the many things you can do in this one-of-a-kind country, the main reason you should go to Tanzania is to see the world as it really is.
There are still wild areas in many places, like Katavi, that haven’t been destroyed by growth or time. It’s the best way to get away from a busy life.
When should you go?
Tanzania has two weather types: dry and wet. It starts to rain around the end of October and lasts until January. From March to June, it starts up again. The dry season comes in between these rainy times.
Visiting in the dry season (February through July and August through September) lets you climb slopes safely and look around in beautiful 77-degree (25-degree Celsius) weather. It will be easier to drive on the roads, and animals will gather around watering holes, which will make them easier to see.
You can do this during the rainy season, though, if you want to see a lot of animals moving around. Animals are happy when it rains, and the grass will be lush and bright. You’ll get the best pictures and see a lot of different animals. The price will also be the lowest because there will be fewer people to deal with.
During the rainy season, you won’t be able to get to some places, but the whole northern route is usually open all year.
Do you need a visa?
Yes. You need a passport, a round-trip ticket, and a tourist visa that lets you enter and leave the country only once to go to Tanzania. This is true for most countries. If you want to know more about your country, you can click on this page.
That being said, your passport needs to be good for at least six months before your arrival date. You can get a visa at the airport.
You can wait until the very last minute to get your visa, but this could lead to delays or even being turned down. If you want to escape higher fees and long lines at the immigration office, we suggest that you apply for the visa ahead of time.
How Long Your Trip Will Last
A Tanzania tour should last at least 10 days, if possible. You can do the Northern Circuit (Serengeti, Tarangire, and Ngorongoro) in 10 days. This is the most famous safari route in Africa.
If you have more time, you can also go to the lakes and culture centers in the area.
Remember to get your shots.
Before going to Tanzania, you should get the following vaccines, according to experts:
Fever with Yellow
Hepatitis A
Tetanus
The A virus
The HBV virus
Hepatitis C
Spasms
TB is a disease
Some doctors say you should get a Typhoid shot if you plan to stay for more than two weeks. And if you are going to be touching animals (like petting them or working on a farm), some doctors say you should get a rabies shot.
Talk to your doctor about what shots you’ve had in the past. Many people are protected against diseases like meningitis when they were kids.
Money
When it comes to money, Tanzania uses the Tanzanian Shilling. It’s often spelled like TSh or /=. There are 50s, 100s, and 200s in coins and 500s, 1000s, and 5000s in bills.
It’s easy to swap US dollars, British pounds, and European euros in most towns. There are, however, many places in the country that will take US Dollars and Euros.
One hundred US dollars is worth 233,200 TSh, one hundred British pounds is worth 277,949,91 TSh, and one hundred euro is worth 234,704.14 TSh.
Things to do and places to visit
While Tanzania has a lot to offer, the main things people do are explore the desert, look for wild animals, and learn about the culture of the area.
Check Out The Big 5
If you want to see the most famous animals in Africa, the Big 5 is a must-do. It is possible to look for the African Lion, the African Elephant, the African Leopard, the Rhinoceros, and the Cape Buffalo on a “Big 5” tour.
Even though these animals are big, it can be very hard to find them in the wild. Illegal poachers are making the goal even harder to reach because they are lowering the population. It is possible to find the best places to see the Big 5 animals, though, if you hire a tour guide.
Take part in The Great Migration.
A lot of wildebeest walk across Africa every year, and this is known as the “great migration.” A strange event has been shown in hundreds of films and seen millions of times, but there is nothing like seeing it for real.
The Serengeti National Park is the best place to see the wildebeest migration, which is the world’s biggest animal movement.
Take on Mount Kilimanjaro.
Tanzania’s other national parks are not like Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. On this tour, you won’t see many animals. Instead, climbing Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, is the main draw.
If you don’t make it to the top, the view of the wild area below is something only gods could see.
Visit Serengeti National Park on a safari.
You should still go to Serengeti National Park even if you’re not there to see the Great Migration or the Big 5. Over 500 kinds of birds live in this, Tanzania’s second-largest national park. Millions of animals, like zebras and gazelles, graze on flat land that makes it easy to see them.
Take the Northern Circuit tour.
The most well-known national parks in Tanzania are in the Northern Circuit. You can go to national parks like Serengeti, Tarangire, and Ngorongoro, as we already said. You can also visit Kilimanjaro, Mkomazi, Lake Manyara, Lake Eyasi, Lake Natron, Arusha, and Lake Manyara.
The whole area can be seen in about 10 days, during which time you can see animals in their native environment.
If you don’t have 10 days to spend traveling across the endless fields, you can see a lot of the area much faster by skipping some parts or taking flights on safaris! Remember that you have time to enjoy everything that Tanzania has to offer. Imagine going on an amazing safari or riding in a hot air balloon over the endless fields.
Go to a wildlife park
Don’t worry if you’re not near Tanzania’s northern park. The United States has 35 national parks. North, East, South, and West. Find a park close to your hotel and start your wildlife adventure there. Each park has its own special features and things to see.
Visit Stone Town.
People in Tanzania think of Stone Town as their architectural center. Most of the homes in this area were built in the 1800s and are on the island of Zanzibar. The doors on the houses are usually made of wood that has been carefully cut and kept in good shape.
For people who love history, Stone Town is a great place to visit. It is the oldest town still in use in the world. People in the area still follow their own traditions, which lets us see history and culture in action.
You can scuba dive in Zanzibar.
Pemba, an island in Zanzibar, is one of the best places to dive in Tanzania. It has a white sand beach that is often empty, and the water is clean enough for scuba diving.
The area is relaxed, and the island is very hilly, so many people like to swim and then go mountain bike on the weekends.
The marine park on Mafia Island
The beaches on Mafia Island are just as nice as those on Pemba, and the water is almost clear. The Marine Park, on the other hand, is on Mafia Island. There is a coral area right next to the water. Fish of more than 400 different kinds can be seen swimming around the coral reef.
The rare green turtle has traditionally laid its eggs on this island. It’s one of the few places where the rare species can stay safe.
See Rift Valley.
Rift Valley got its name from the way the earth’s crust is broken. The valley here is a natural wonder because it cracks down for thousands of miles. The big drop has made hot springs, volcanoes, lakes, and geysers appear on their own.
Flamingos live in this valley, and baboons rule the land. The split is between tectonic plates, and it is getting bigger every year. It goes from Syria to Mozambique. The rift valley’s highest point can reach 400 meters in some places, and the drop from there is very steep. It’s beautiful from the top of this valley. Manyara Best View Lodge is one of the most popular places to stay at the top of this Rift Valley. It’s a real draw that people often combine with Tarangire, Ngorongoro, or Lake Manyara national parks.
Visit a lake.
Kenya has more than 14 big lakes all over the country. Lake Chala, which is on the border between Tanzania and Kenya, has the smallest surface area. It covers an area of 4.2 km², which is 1.6 square miles.
At 68,800 kilometers squared, or 26,600 square miles, Lake Victoria has the most land size of any lake in the world. Scotland is 77,910 kilometers square, while the United Kingdom is 243,610 kilometers square. This means that the lake that was named for Queen Victoria is the same size as one of her countries.
The Lake Victoria
Even though this lake is the world’s second biggest. It is miles away the biggest tropical lake.
The lake is so big that it goes through three countries: Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.
There are fish in it that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. It was named for Queen Victoria in 1858.
The Manyara Lake
Birds are what Lake Manyara is known for. Many birds, like the chestnut-banded plover, are very rare. There are over a million flamingos, thousands of pelicans, hundreds of storks, and more.
It’s mostly carp, so this lake is better for people who like birds than for people who like fish.
You’ll be taken to this lake in a truck that cuts through a wild forest and rough brush to get to the marsh. The setting and trip are stunning.
This lake lets you fish while you watch the flamingos fly by.
In Lake Natron
A lake with a pH level of 12 or more is called Natron. Scientists think that the lava under the water that makes a lot of carbonate is to blame for this high alkaline level.
Animals and plants that like salt can live in these waters because they are unusually salty. These flowers are mostly red instead of green because they don’t use green colors for photosynthesis. This makes it look like there is a blood lake.
Flamingos get their red and pink feathers from the redfish, other animals, and plants they eat.
There aren’t many roads in this area, so getting there can be hard. A trained guide will know the best way to get there. During the wet season, however, you can’t get to Lake Natron.
Lake Duluti
This lake is less of an animal sanctuary and more of a place to play sports. You can walk to the area, canoe in the water, or ride a bike around the waterways. You can’t swim in that area, but you can do some calm water sports while you enjoy the view.
The Momella Lake
There are 7 lakes that make up Lake Momella. They are Tulusia, Lekandrio, El Kekhotoito, Rishateni, Kusare, and Big Momela.
All of them are small, alkaline lakes where you can see flamingos. In these lakes, you might also see pelicans, guinea fowl, African fish eagles, Egyptian geese, and African jacanas.
Because this lake is very alkaline, most animals don’t drink from it. However, you can see zebras, waterbucks, and giraffes in the areas around it.
To get the most out of the trip, you should take a boat trip around the lakes.
Zanzibar’s beaches are worth seeing.
If you’d rather be active on holiday than watch animals, you should go to the islands of Zanzibar and find a surfing beach. The white sand beaches and clear, shallow water make it easy to learn how to do the sport.
You can also rent boats to get out into the clear water of the ocean without leaving the island.
See the villages in Iraqw
The Iraqw tribe is very old and still lives the same way they did more than 100 years ago.
Tanzania is home to more than 150 tribes, and many of them do well. The Iraqw tribe lets tourists experience their way of life. You can talk to the people who live there, go into their homes, and help them farm.
You can check out the Iraqw market if you go on the 7th or 25th of the month. People from the town sell everything here, from cattle to art to clothes. It would be a one-of-a-kind gift to give back home.
Get to know a Maasai village.
You can expect the same rough culture in the Maasai Village as you did in the Iraqw Village. The Maasai people still live in the middle of Africa, though. Lions and elephants roam their land, but they are not scared of these dangerous animals.
They know how to live in balance with nature, and they could teach you how to do that.
Go to Ngorongoro Crater.
The Ngorongoro National Park is so special that we’ve talked about it more than once. It’s one of the seven wonders of Africa. It has the most animals per square kilometer of any place on Earth. Also, the wildlife could live there happily.
The crater gives the animals a steady source of water, and we can see many beautiful animals gathering at the drinking hole.
The crater is about a million years old and was once one of the world’s largest mountains before it blew up and caused so much damage. It has been higher than Mt. Kilimanjaro, and this beautiful place was made when the volcano erupted. It’s not really a hole; it’s a caldera. It’s called Ngorongoro Crater, though.
Check Out The Cultural Heritage Center in Arusha
A lot of art from all over Africa can be found in the Arusha Cultural Heritage Center. You can see the history of living and long-gone tribes on masks, furniture, statues, and crafts.
The Tanzanite is one of the gems you will learn about. There is only one place where this gem can be found, and it is in Tanzania. It is named after that country.
All over the world, people went to war to find this very rare and beautiful rock. You can read about how this gem changed Tanzania and the countries nearby.
Go to Olduvai Gorge.
Archaeological sites from the past can be seen at the Olduvai Gorge. In this area, heads from people who lived about 2 million years ago have been found to be the oldest human bones.
You might be able to talk to an archaeologist who is working on the spot if you go between June and October. If they have found anything new, they can tell you what it means for what we know about our ancestors.
It doesn’t matter if there aren’t any scientists working. You can still talk to the tour guides and buy copies at the museum.
High-end places to stay in Tanzania
You should stay at a 5-star hotel that is close to the animals you’ll be seeing during the day. Then Singita Faru Faru Lodge or Melia Serengeti Lodge is the place to stay. Because it is on the edge of the National Park, you can see the most beautiful views of the fields as the sun goes down.
There is a gym, a top-notch restaurant, a personal walking safari tour, and more at the hotel. You will be able to use the outdoor pool and hiking paths with or without a guide nearby.
You can book a room at Legendary Lodge or Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge if you’d rather stay close to Tanzania’s culture center. It is right in the middle of everything going on in Arusha, but it still feels cool and far away inside.
As a coffee-focused lodge, you can enjoy the best coffee from all over the continent, as well as great dining and use of the spa and pool.
Finally, if you want your hotel to be a place to have fun on its own, Tulia Zanzibar is the best luxury love resort for you. You might need to be reminded that there is more to the world outside their doors after a day of scuba diving, shows, and good dining.
High-end places to stay in Zanzibar
Here are a few more places we think you might enjoy if you want to spend your vacation in Zanzibar.
There is a quiet place to stay called Residence Zanzibar right next to the ocean. There are 66 fancy houses to pick from, and each one has comforts from different cultures. Giving you choices from your own country so you can try something new.
You can get to the pool, have a private beach, and see the ocean from your room’s deck.
You can enjoy a trip with a touch of history at Baraza Resort and Spa Zanzibar. There are traces of both Arabic and Swahili culture in the building. Great food and the beach is right outside the door.
The Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar was just remodeled in 2019. They have pools, whirlpools, a gym, and games and shows during the day and evening. The food at the restaurant is 5 stars, and you can enjoy your stay while looking out at the beach.
Advice and Help
Here are a few things you should think about before you pack your bags. When you go to a different place, you should be aware of the differences in culture and how things work.
Think About Driving
We recommend that you either bring or rent a car if you want to explore the Northern Circuit. There aren’t many ways to get around in Tanzania, but these trips have a driving route that will help you get across the huge plains.
With a short stop at Lake Manyara, the path goes from Tarangire to Serengeti to Ngorongoro.
Think about hiring a professional guide.
If you stay at a certain hotel, you might be able to use a professional guide the whole time. If not, you should go to an information center to get one. You can find the best places to see rare animals and get into safer areas if you have a professional guide with you.
If you go on safari without a professional guide, you might miss out on the small things and animals that are hard to find.
Do Not Follow The Path
Tanzania can get busy during the hottest part of the dry season. When there are more people than animals, you should stay away from the well-worn routes. We recommend that you go to Rubondo Island in the middle of Lake Victoria.
In a Robinson Crusoe story, the mountains are empty of people, and the wildlife preserve keeps going as if people had never been there.
Look at your airports.
Tanzania has more than one airport, so don’t just fly into Dar es Salaam, the country’s capital, and spend the whole day getting to your hotel. There are airports outside of Arusha that link easily to Serengeti and go straight to Kilimanjaro.
Make sure you know which choices will save you the most time and money so you don’t waste either by going with the first one.
Get a SIM card for your area
You should buy a sim card in the country where you’ll be traveling so that you don’t have to pay extra to use your phone there. Because they will be used in the country, these sims will have better wifi and data connections and cost less.
We suggest that you pick Vodacom, Airtel, or Tigo. Airtel is the least expensive brand and has the worst network of the three. However, it will cost you less than your foreign sim card. Tigo’s link is good, and the price is fair. Vodacom has the fastest network, but it costs a lot. You should buy a Vodacom sim card if you can afford it.
Take the trains.
The best way to get around Tanzania is by train, unless you want to drive through the Northern Circuit. That’s possible, but it costs a lot of money and takes a long time. It’s cheaper to take the train, and it lets you see more of the area and feel like a real Tanzanian.
Always travel with a group at night.
Tanzania is a great place for tourists to visit, but there will always be someone ready to catch one. If you don’t want to be mugged, travel with other people at night. Thieves can see a visitor coming from a mile away, so don’t risk it.
Only bring the things you need every day.
This takes us to the next trip. Bring only the things you need for the day. Try to leave the country, but lose your passport or visa. You could get into a lot of trouble.
On the other hand, don’t leave your hotel room without bug spray and sunscreen. When it’s hot outside, these sprays will be your best friend.
Carry light.
This is advice for everyone, not just Tanzania. Bring only the things you need to hike, relax, and swim at the beach. When you get there, you can buy more clothes and wash them at the hotel. Instead, leave space in your bag for souvenirs and gifts.
If you pack less, you’ll also save money on your trip. Buy throwaway items when you get there to get the most out of the savings. If you need shampoo, travel toothpaste, or other small toiletries, you can get them close to your hotel, so don’t waste travel room.
Don’t Forget To Tip
Tanzanians tip the same way they breathe. For simple things like getting your picture taken, driving, or being served at a cafe, you should tip between 10 and 12 percent. If you are in a fancy restaurant or a 5-star hotel, on the other hand, you should expect to tip 20%.
You should leave a tip for every transaction, so check those extra coins out before you buy something.
In short
Tour of Safari
Tanzania’s top spots are Mount Kilimanjaro, the Northern Circuit treks, Lake Victoria or Manyara, the Iraqw Village, and the Arusha Cultural Heritage Center. You will miss the most famous parts of the country if you don’t stop by at least one of these spots on your trip.
Remember to plan days of rest into your trip, because all the beautiful wildlife can be too much for tourists. So enjoy the spar days and take it easy by the sea.
